<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000 <CASH> 100,112,686 <SECURITIES> 64,656,371 <RECEIVABLES> 175,491,986 <ALLOWANCES> 11,427,512 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 819,341,742 <PP&E> 244,657,457 <DEPRECIATION> 58,949,834 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,207,202,689 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 187,425,050 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 247,591 <OTHER-SE> 520,401,182 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,207,202,689 <SALES> 822,050,046 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 822,050,046 <CGS> 661,617,561 <TOTAL-COSTS> 862,720,125 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,922,574 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,275,830 <INCOME-PRETAX> 422,942,985 <INCOME-TAX> 183,845,370 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 255,089,885 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 2,975,846 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 252,114,039 <EPS-BASIC> 7.34 <EPS-DILUTED> 6.79